Written by Jack Limbaugh
Eleven Algona boys’ wrestling team qualifiers traveled to Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines to participate in the IHSAA State Wrestling Championships. This was the most State qualifiers in AHS school history. The previous record was eight qualifiers in 1980. In order to get a chance at State, wrestlers had to place 1st or 2nd at the District meet in Sioux Center on February 15th.
The 11 Bulldog wrestlers who qualified this year included Teague Alesch at 106, Thomas Zabka at 113, Isaac Wilson at 126, CJ McGregor at 132, Barrett Morgan at 144, Ashton Moreno at 150, Tate Slagle at 157, Carter McGregor at 165, Tateyn Rummel at 175, Gavin Goche at 215, and Jack Limbaugh at 285.
Teague Alesch wrestled two matches at State and ended the season with an overall record of 24-21 and was a State qualifier as a freshman. This is the fourth year in a row that a freshman has qualified for State!
Thomas Zabka wrestled two matches at State and ended the season with an overall record of 22-16.
Isaac Wilson won his first match by a tech fall on Wednesday and then lost. He won another consolation match then lost, ending his great Algona wrestling career with a season record of 39-8 and a four time State qualifier.
CJ McGregor won his first match 9-7 then lost. He won his first consolation match, then lost his second, ending his freshman year with a record of 25-11.
Barrett Morgan started his State run with a bye then lost his first match but battled back, winning two matches on the backside before losing a heartbreaker in the blood round 5-4. He ended the year with an overall record of 35-12.
Ashton Moreno also battled back with two wins after a bye and a loss but came up short in a 6-5 loss in the blood round. He ended a great Bulldog wrestling career with a season record of 39-10. Moreno says, “I will always remember this season because it was so fun.”
Tate Slagle started the tournament with a couple strong wins. Then in the semis he faced Brent Denharnt from Greene County who beat him in a 5-4 heartbreaker. But he was not done yet. He battled back all the way to the 3rd place match where he came up just short and ended an incredible season with a 4th place finish at State and a season record of 33-4. Slagle ended his very successful wrestling career as the all-time win leader in Algona wrestling history, a four time State qualifier, and three time State placewinner!
Carter McGregor went 2-2 at State and ended his great wrestling season with a record 35-12.
Tateyn Rummel went 1-2 at State and ended his freshman year with an overall record of 33-19.
Gavin Goche went 3-2 at State and ended his junior wrestling season with a solid record of 29-8.
Jack Limbaugh went 0-2 and ended his senior year with a record of 35-13. Mr. Cecil states, “It’s pretty cool that Jack competed in State basketball and State wrestling in his high school career. Not many can say they accomplished that.”
Also, the Algona coaching staff was presented with the 2A coaching staff of the year award on Saturday night. The coaches include co-head coaches Nick Kuecker and Tong Uk Yi, and assistant coaches Jordan Limbaugh, Tyler Kraft, Kory Kuecker, Troy Nation, Jeremy Rummel, Cody Alesch, and Brian Morgan.
Although the State tournament wasn’t as successful as the team had hoped, they are still State dual team champions, sealing themselves into Algona history among other State champions and will be remembered as one of the best dual teams ever to take the mat.